1/72 B-52D "Big Belly" Racks

Some great info, thanks. Would these other unit, MMS, FMS etc also use this trucks. If i am doing a B-52 being loaded, it might be an idea to have an MMS truck next to it.

So how come you ended up in Nha Trang in 71. Had you moved to a different unit.

Yes, all the maintenance squadrons used these vans. The number signs would have been generally the same format, with MMS or FMS instead of AMS. BTW, the vans used on Guam and at Utapao, Thailand were painted Air Force blue, not olive drab as at Kadena.

I got back from Okinawa in December to find I had been reassigned to Thailand. I went to Takhli, Thailand in 1969 where I worked on ECM equipped EB-66 and EB-57 Canbera aircraft, and also F-105 aircraft, including the F-105 Wild Weasel. I rotated back to the States at the end of  '69 and was assigned to Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas where I worked on F4 fighters. About 2 months later, I got orders for Viet Nam, and in January 1971, I arrived at Nha Trang. I was assigned to a unit called 1st Flight Detatchment where I worked on the ECM equipment for special operations aircraft, including the Combat Talon C-130 aircraft, the ones equipped with the Fulton Surface-to-Air Recovery System that was demonstrated in the movie Green Berets.

Thanks, i will keep in mind the van colour.

WOW, thats some selection of aircraft. And they certainly didn't like to let the grass grow under your feet did they.

No, they didn't :). After Viet Nam, I was assigned to Nellis AFB outside Las Vegas Nevada. There I worked on FB-111s, F-105s, F4s and A7s. I was there 2 years and then decided to get out of the Air Force, but I missed it so much I was back in within a year. My flightline career was over, however. They retrained me to work on land-based microwave radio systems. BTW, I spent 3 years in NATO doing inspections of Ace High microwave radio relay sites. These sites were part of a circle of communications sites that stretched from Turkey through Europe and England to the Shetland Islands. You may have seen one of these sites - they had two large billboard or dish antennas nearly 30 meters in diameter. They were hard to miss but they were mostly located in rural areas. I had a very enjoyable tour of the sites at Maidstone, Alnwick and in the Shetland Islands.

No, i havent actually seen one of these sites. I just did a goggle search and seems there were quite a few in the UK.

When did you finally leave the service.

I retired in 1987 after 20 years.

Good on ur. My time is up in Oct after 22 and i am really not looking forward to it.

Well, congratulations to you, and believe me, I understand. It's not easy to give up a way of life you've had for so long. Just keep a positive attitude and something good will come along. I wish you and your family the best.

Here's the completed bomb clip assembly with chains and turnbuckles added. Next project: a replication of the flatbed semitrailer loaded with 750 lb bombs.

Very nice, and i will be certainly looking forward to the flatbed.

Howdy All, Old Andy is still alive and kicking! I had to come back as a different address as I couldn't get back in as myself; there were other Andys and Andrews so I'm here as Andrew Magoo, just usually Magoo.

No I haven't built my B-52D Big Belly yet a few things got in the way like my Bachelors degree, I died, amputation of my left leg, death of my oldest son then my father followed by my mother and almost my wife. Plus my youngest going through his second go around in two years with cancer and losing my job. Sometimes life gets in the way but I'm ok now.

I do have the bombs but could never find the resin bomb magazines I was looking for. I figured I would have to scratch build them. Now I can thank the Lord... some nice pictures for me to look at and build my bomb magazines. I couldn't find good pictures of the magazines on the internet I obviosly am not calling the bomb magazines the correct name. However, while in Rapid City at Ellsworth AFB I got some detailed pictures of the 52's Bomb bay so I can detail the inside. Magoo

Andrew Magoo,

Welcome back Andrew!  We rarely know what trials and tribulations others may be suffering.  You are truly a survivor!  Life sucks sometimes but it's better than the alternative!  Keep kicking the "Grim Reaper" in the teeth! 

Welcome back, Andy. Sounds like you've been through h*** bud. Hope things are much better for you and your family now. The few pictures I found, I got by searching for "b-52d bomb clip" or "big belly modification", that sort.  I'm writing an article with dimensions for the clip and trailer that I built but I still haven't received a response from FSM about posting it so let me know and I'll send you a copy when I finish it. Goes for you too, Bish. If I can help either of you, let me know.

Below are a few more photos that might be helpful. You can also see the special bomb clip loader that actually lifted the bomb clips up into the bomb bay.  One side of the loader was open to allow it to enclose the transport trailer and then lift the cradle with the clip so the trailer could be removed. The loader then lowered the clip and was maneuvered under the bomb bay. BTW, the pictures by Gary James show 750 lb bomb clips, not 500 lb clips like the one I modelled (bottom photo). The loader was used to install both types. I just came across the last picture this morning. It shows 500 lb bomb clips being pre-loaded at a munitions "hardstand." Notice the loaded clip on the trailer in the background. I can see now that the the bomb cradles were open-frame, not solid like I modeled it.

Photo courtesy Gary James Utapao, Thailand 1970-71

Great referance photos. Thats some combination of vehicles to load this beats.

Welcome back Andy.

Howdy All, Thank you for your concern. Things are Ok for now. I've always been here lurking in the back ground. I'm currently in the B-36 group build converting a previously built 1/72 Monogram RB-36H into a YB-60. I have a few in-progress pictures posted and descriptions. The nose is giving me fits but I've about got it whipped. Andrew Magoo

Couldn't find a B-36 group build on this site. Can you provide a link?

Thanks.

/forums/t/142716.aspx

Hi Striker,

I read through your posts and saw your pictures of the bomb clips you made.  Very impressive!  If you wouldn't mind, I would like to be added to your list when you get that document done.

My family was stationed at Kadena Okinawa from June 1962 through December 1964.  My Dad was a crew chief on the F-105D when we first arrived then shortly afterwards was switched over to the RF-101C.  The last 3 months we were there he was TDY in Vietnam at several bases, Tan Son Nhut,  Nha-Trang, and Da Nang.

Ken

Hello, Ken,

I have the document finished and will be happy to send you a copy if you can PM me and provide me an email address. It's in web format so you can view it with your web browser. Keep in mind that the instructions haven't been reviewed or verified yet so there are bound to be mistakes.

I don't remember seeing 105's or F4s except as transients while I was at Kadena. I believe they were all moved south to Naha AB. I later worked on both of those aircraft types in Thailand and back in the states at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

Best regards,

Russ

Hi Russ:

I have a a 1/72 B-52 hanging from my ceiling awaiting.

I built a bomb bay for it, and while it is far from perfect, I got

a couple of chances now to see the bomb bay in person

at the Wright Patterson AFB Museum.

Having put the bay in, the old Monogram parts don't work,

so I would be interested in putting in those clips you've designed.

Dom

Bockscar

Hi Russ:

I have a a 1/72 B-52 hanging from my ceiling awaiting.

I built a bomb bay for it, and while it is far from perfect, I got

a couple of chances now to see the bomb bay in person

at the Wright Patterson AFB Museum.

Having put the bay in, the old Monogram parts don't work,

so I would be interested in putting in those clips you've designed.

 

Dom

Hi, Dom,

No problem, bud. I just finished an update and have asked Ken to convert it to a pdf for me. As soon as I have it, I'll be glad to send you a copy, or maybe I can post it here. Will investigate.

Russ

Hi, All,

I haven't been able to find a way to post my construction procedure here for the big belly bomb clip so if you'd like a copy, please PM me.

Russ

E-Mail sent.

Just had a quick flick through, will read it all later. But first impression, brilliant. Those photos of the real stuff look great and will be very useful. Been watching you build the clip and was woundering how they attached, now i know.

I think we may be seeing a few of these in the next few years, some great work. Thanks

Here are three links to the U-tapao Alumni Associations website munitions loading videos for the B-52D. They show the complete process from unloading the bombs from the ships to loading them on the clips, and then loading the clips on the plane.

Part 1 Ship to Shore:  www.youtube.com/watch

Part 2 Assembly and Clip Loading: www.youtube.com/watch

Part 3 Loading Clips on the Aircraft:  www.youtube.com/watch

Cheers,

Russ

Striker8241

Here are three links to the U-tapao Alumni Associations website munitions loading videos for the B-52D. They show the complete process from unloading the bombs from the ships to loading them on the clips, and then loading the clips on the plane.

Part 1 Ship to Shore:  www.youtube.com/watch

Part 2 Assembly and Clip Loading: www.youtube.com/watch

Part 3 Loading Clips on the Aircraft:  www.youtube.com/watch

Cheers,

Russ

Very cool Russ. I just watched all three.  Very interesting.  Thank you for sharing that with us!

Ken

You're welcome, Ken. Glad you enjoyed them.

Russ

Hi Ken,

I was at Naha AFB 'mid 61 - late '64.  My Dad was Wing Line Chief of the 51st FIW (F-102s)

You go to Kubasaki?

Ray

Ray Marotta

Hi Ken,

I was at Naha AFB 'mid 61 - late '64.  My Dad was Wing Line Chief of the 51st FIW (F-102s)

You go to Kubasaki?

Ray

Hi Ray,

Sorry for the late reply, I have been really busy at work.  I was only between the ages of 5 and 7 while we were at Kadena, so I do not know the names of places.  I do remember living close enough to the ocean that I could walk to it from our house.  Also, there was what I believe was an Army base directly across the highway that ran behind our house.

Ken

I have written a procedure on how to construct the bomb clip shown in this thread. If you would like a copy of the latest version, please PM me.

Russ